Mayo sports prediction: Uncapped Irish players to make breakthrough in 2024

by Caoimhín Rowland

THE search by the FAI for a new senior team 'gaffer', as Stephen Staunton infamously monikered himself to the press, is well under way.

Names such as Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce have joined more youthful and intriguing options like Lee Carsley and Brian Barry Murphy, but without any confirmation of who exactly will take the reins for Ireland’s 2024 UEFA Nations League campaign in September.

Earlier in the year, the new boss will be tasked with selecting a squad for the first of the two friendlies as Belgium visit Dublin on March 23 for a 5 p.m. kick-off, with Switzerland following three days later at 7.45 p.m.

Here we look at a number of uncapped Irish players that could break through under a new manager this year.

The towering Corkonian centre-half has taken to Ligue 1 like a duck to water. His height, athleticism and eye for goal have cemented his position as a fan favourite at Lyon, despite their worst start to a season in living memory.

Ireland is blessed with centre-half options but with Shane Duffy on the way out, O’Brien could very well be the mainstay for any future manager keen on taking advantage of set-pieces.

A favourite of Irish football Twitter fans, the former Aston Villa youth player has been in phenomenal form during Argyle’s return to the Championship. Playing mostly as a number 10, Azaz offers something different to what is currently seen in Ireland’s midfield.

Molumby, Knight and Cullen offer energy but little dynamism. Ireland needs creativity in midfield if we want to get the best out of Evan Ferguson.

Eligible to play for England as well as Israel, Azaz needs to be part of the next Irish camp, without a doubt.

The Galway-born full-back has been parachuted into first-team action by Eddie Howe, primarily due to an unfortunately long injury list at St. James’ Park.

A regular at 17 for John Caulfield’s Galway United while in the First Division, the technically superb full-back is emerging in an area of the pitch Ireland is lacking, left-back.

Matt Doherty is derided every team he puts in a lacklustre performance for Ireland, Liam Scales is more comfortable centrally and Ryan Manning, another Galway man, is struggling for form at Southampton.

Murphy could soon be the answer to those problems. Expect him to pick up more first-team minutes on Tyneside in the next year.

The promising striker and son of former Middlesbrough and Ireland player Graham Kavanagh emerges as a beacon of hope for the future of Irish football. Recently made his first-team debut for Michael Carrick’s outfit.

Kavanagh has caught the eye after demonstrating his prowess in front of goal stunning four-goal performance for Boro's Under 21 side. Carrick, impressed by the young striker's goal-scoring instincts, views first-team experience as invaluable for Kavanagh's growth on the professional stage.

Kavanagh has firmly committed to representing Ireland on the international scene, despite being eligible for England and Wales. A previous loan move to non-league Harrogate Town didn’t work out well, but at the age of 20, Kavanagh needs to have a solid 2024 to live up to his prolific form at underage level.

The latest in the pantheon of fantastic international Irish names, MacNulty’s mother hails from Clare and has been impressing in his second full season at the senior men’s level with PEC Zwolle in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Having come through the ranks at Real Betis before signing for Wolfsburg in 2019, he joined Dutch second-tier club NAC Breda on loan for this season.

He made 28 appearances in all competitions last season, but a move to PEC Zwolle last summer has seen the versatile defender move to left-back and excel, last month picking up a long-term contract till 2026.

He recently captained Jim Crawford’s Ireland Under 21s but any prospective Ireland boss will be keen to nail MacNulty down for the future in green.

n the more experienced side in comparison to others on the list, Taylor could very well be a Premier League player in 2024 due to Ipswich Town’s meteoric rise under Kieran McKenna.

The former Chelsea youth product has clawed his way up to new heights through spells with non-league Barnet and over 100 appearances for Peterborough.

A box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goal, particularly from distance, he has a profile lacking in the current selection of Irish midfielders.

Taylor has been part of squads before but is yet to make a senior debut for the Boys in Green. This could very well be the year that would happen for the London-born midfielder.